David Benavidez decision leaves two Brits in line to fight for light heavyweight world title

David Benavidez made the jump up from light-heavyweight to cruiserweight earlier this year, and now his latest update seems set to benefit two British contenders.

Benavidez stepped up from super-middleweight to light-heavyweight just two years ago and ‘The Mexican Monster’ was elevated to WBC light-heavyweight world champion following two wins over Oleksandr Gvozdyk and David Morrell.

After defending the belt against Anthony Yarde last November, Benavidez then announced that he would next be stepping up 25lbs and challenging unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight titleholder Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, but vowed to return to light-heavyweight afterwards.

In May, Benavidez dethroned Ramirez with a dominant six-round stoppage win and career-best performance that caused him to rise the pound-for-pound rankings.

Now, Benavidez has told Inside The Ring, that he will not be returning to the 175lb scene, with his WBC crown set to be relinquished.

“No, [I am not returning to light-heavyweight]. I feel great at this weight-class, I don’t have to lose weight, I have never felt as good as I did for my last fight [against Ramirez]. So, I want to be the reigning champion for a long, long time.”

As a result, the WBC may soon confirm that the scheduled vacant WBC Interim title bout between London’s Joshua Buatsi and Scotland’s Willy Hutchinson will be upgraded to a full vacant WBC light-heavyweight world title contest.

The well-timed rematch between Buatsi and Hutchinson comes two years after Buatsi’s split-decision triumph over the Scotsman and will take place at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday, November 7, with a formal WBC announcement anticipated imminently.

Meanwhile, Benavidez is poised to face newly-elevated WBC cruiserweight world champion Michal Cieslak in a three-belt unification clash on Saturday, December 12, in Phoenix, Arizona, with a win setting up an all-action clash against Jai Opetaia.